Traction chain



Dec. 22, 1953 w. H. Dr-:voNsHlRE TRACTION CHAIN Filed Oct. 26, 1949 Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFLCE This invention relates to `traction chains-fand lvide improvements in tire chains of the type employing traction chains which extend diagonally over the tread of the tire.

` Another-object of theinvention is to 'provide improvements intract-ion cha-ins which are designed -specicallyfor farm implements and other vehicles yfor `field or mud highway use.

- Another object ofltheinvention istoprovide an.` improved-traction@chain which is particularly adapted `to :service in muddy highwaysnelds; and

the like; and in which the traction chain elementsfthereof are of improved sola-cleaning characteristics. 1

:Another object of the invention'i's to provide anv vimproved traction chain of 4the character aforesaidzwhich `in addition to the advantages set :forth .hereinabove provides improved "traction'results.

Other objects andadvantages of thefinvention will appear from 'thespecicationfhereinafter.

, In `the drawings:

Fig. l is 'a fragmentary plan'viewfof'altraction :chain -of `:fthe invention, showing a fanovel traction chain. arrangement thereof; r :and

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 'l are"diagrammatie fragmentary plan views of modiedsiorms ,for the traction chain arrangement oftheinvention.

The. invention contemplates a vehicle vvheel chai-n of the type including a pair ofesideichains which -are adaptedftoflie alongside'*oppositexside walls 4.of a `vehicle tire, and 4'whichl may 'be 'provided =With:- suitable .latch I.devices at'th'e opposite ends thereof 1 adapted to. "be: manually operated for coupling thechain in toperative Vposition upon thefvehicle:vvhee'lltV "'Iihefside fchains :are interconnected'by cross :ichainizlelernents r which extend ate'suitable :intervals aroundthe periphery lof the f tiregfronrnnenside chain-to the other,fthustrav ersing the :tread portion of the 'vehicle vtire.,

Thesev crosschainfeelements are 'designed to be snugly-taut against 'tiref trea'dvvhen the devicelisniounted uponfthe' Wheel so as 'ftopositively position-the device -on "the tire'for best results.

"The traction chain elements of vthe device of the Vinvention -oomprise Aseparate 'chain elements which extendf-obliquely -4`tran'sversely lof fthe tire tread 'at fintevais ztlrerearoundl; said traction chai-ne"elements"beingspecially designed so as' "to be slackrelative tothe tire tread when 'thede vice is mountedupon the wheel with thecross chainv elements vin `taut condition. Thus, fthe traction 'chain elements are permitted yto 5flap about 'relative to the tire 'tread Whereas the cross chain 'elements are snuglydravvn thereagainst and thereby prevented fromrolling'relative'fto the tire tread. This 'action'permits the traction chain LAelements to slap againstv the tirey tread when the `nfiounting Wheel 'is`-revolving; whereby dir-t and mud orV ice-'accumulations picked `up Within the links of the traction 'chainjelements are being continuously dislodgedf'andf'shaken loose therefrom. 'This 4prevents'elogging ofthe traction`A chain yelements in ysuch manner'as would `otherwisel substantially reduce Ythetiactive eiectiveness of they device. v-More Lsp'eciiica-l'ly, as illustrated in Fig. 1,*a tire chain of the invention may comprise/apairof side Vchain elements III-I0 vwhich may beit-abricatedv of Iany desired type chain links I2; Athe side chains III--I'O being interconnected by rcross chain elements I4. Thecross chain elements I4 may loe-fabricated of any suitable style-chain links I6 and tte'd with hook links I-'I-at each end which are arranged in engagement vvithsfthe side vchain links at appropriate intervals therealong. As explained hereinabove, the-sidenhain elements Il! andthe 'cross'chain elements I4'a1e so dimensioned that Whenever a chain `rdevice of the invention is coupled upon a vehicle tire the side chain and cross chain' elements arethereby vdravvn 'into snugly ltaut condition for proper maintenance of the Vchain device in *operative vposition on'the tire.

St-ill'referringtofFign 1, `the'traction chain ,ele-

ments thereof are indicated generally at 18A-"I8, and are illustrated to comprise relatively"1arge twisted 4or curb 'lin-ks. I9; theti'action chain elements 'being disposed diagonally of the direction of rotation 'offthe Ymounting Wheelsothat the traction link "elements vcrossy `the cleat portions ofthe ti-retread withthe apex vof the V defined V@by the con-verging traction chains: being dispose-d to point int-he vdirection of vehiclev motion. f-Aflso, particular attention is'called-to'the fact 'that the' "traction `'chain elements I8-I8are so ldirnensioned that they extend*` between vthe adjacent' cross chain elements in slack""'con'dition; Because therelatively smaller cross chain-'elements are jin i'constant tension providing 'for proper t of the chains to the tires, .thelarger tractionmembers'remain in loose condition and are therefore tree to slap Aagainst the tire tread in such manner as to shake loose any accumulation to provide the improved self-cleaning characteristics referred to hereinabove.

Fig. 2 illustrates another form of the invention in conjunction with a tire chain device comprising the conventional side chains 2li-2G and `relatively small taut cross chains 22-22 which take the tension of the traction forces during operation. The traction chain elements are again illustrated to be formed of relatively large links and are loosely arranged to extend between the relatively taut cross chain elements. One of the traction chain elements 211 is fastened at one end by means of a link 25 to one of the center links of one of the cross chain elements and at its other end by means of a link device 2S to an end link of the next succeeding cross chain element. The second traction chain element 28 is fastened at one of its ends by means of a link 29 to an approximately center link of the rst traction link element 24 and at its other end by means of a link 39 to the opposite end link of the lastl mentioned cross chain element. This pattern is repeated, but in reverse as viewed in plan, between successive pairs of cross chain elements; and it will be appreciated that in the construction of Fig. 2 the traction chain elements are adapted to cross the diagonally disposed cleat formations of tractor Wheel tires to provide the combination improved traction and self-cleaning characteristics referred to hereinabove.

Fig. 3 illustrates another form of the invention which utilizes the conventional rim chains 32.32 and relatively small sized and tautly arranged cross chain elements 311-35. As mentioned hereinabove the cross chain and rim chain elementscooperate to provide the proper t of the chain device to the tire and absorb the various traction loads thereon. The traction chain elements of the device of Fig. 3 are illustrated generally at 36 to comprise relatively large chain links arranged in chain formations extending diagonally from one end portion of one cross chain element to approximately the mid-portion of the next succeeding cross chain element; the diagonal disposition pattern whereof being successively reversed so that the traction chain elements are thereby arranged in alternately diagonal attitudes within the spaces between successive cross chain elements. Thus, it will be appreciated that the chain device of Fig. 3 also embodies the relatively loose traction chain element arrangement running diagonally of the tread center line, whereby the traction link elements cross Vthe diagonal cleat devices of the tractor wheel tire, and provide improved traction and self-cleaning characteristics referred to hereinabove.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate modified forms of the arrangement of Fig. 3, wherein the taut cross chains 40 carry slack large link traction chain elements l2-44, respectively, which extend diagonally between opposite end portions of adjacent cross chain elements to provide the cleat slapping operation referred to hereinabove. In Fig. 4 the traction chain elements are disposed in zig-zag pattern, while in Fig. the traction chain elements are in parallel diagonal relation.

6 illustrates another form of the invention wherein a pair of side chains llare interconnected by cross chains 52-52 as explained hereinabove; the traction chains heilig illustrated at Sali-54. In this case each of the traction chains 54--54 extend diagonally be tween the end link of one cross chain into connection with a link at the opposite end of the next adjacent cross chain element, and thus it will be appreciated that the traction chain elements 54--54 cross each other midway between the adjacent cross chain elements. However, as explained hereinabove it is a particular feature and advantage of the invention that the traction chain elements 54-54 are both so dimensioned as to be disposed in slack condition between the relatively taut cross chain elements, and the traction chain members 54-54 are not interconnected at the position of their relative crossing. Thus, the traction chain elements are free to flap about for the improved self-cleaning and traction effects referred to hereinabove.

Fig. 7 illustrates still another form of the invention wherein the side chain elements are indicated at 60--60 and the cross chain elements are indicated at E2-62. In this case the traction chain elements are indicated at 64 to comprise between each pair of adjacent'cross chain elements a unit of four traction chain elements extending diagonally between the mid-portions of the cross chain element and the side chain elements therebetween; it being a particular feature of the invention that the traction chain elements S4 are arranged so as to be disposed in slack condition so as to obtain the improved selfcleaning effects referred to hereinabove.

It is a particular feature of the invention that the cross chain elements are formed of relatively small links and are lengthwise dimensioned so as to be drawn taut across the tread of the tire when mounted thereon, whereby the cross chains do not tend to roll and-tighten up against the tire such as would damage the tire and reduce the cleat effect of the cross chain element. At

the same time the diagonally disposed traction chain elements are arranged to be slack relative to the tire tread and are formed of large links for maximum cleatY effects but are not subject to rolling tendencies because of their diagonal disposition relative to the direction of travel. Nevertheless, they have suicient transverse force components to comprise fully effective traction elements.

Although only a few forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A tire chain assembly adapted to be detachably mounted about a vehicle tire circumferentially thereof and comprising a' pair of side chains of a length adapting them to extend entirely about the circumference of the tire at opposite sides thereof when the chain assembly is applied to the tire in position for use, cross chains extending between said side chains and spaced from each other longitudinally thereof and at their ends being connected with links of the side chains, said cross chains being all of the same length and each of such length that it extends across the tread portion of a tire in= taut condition when the chain assembly is applied to a tire of predetermined diameter, and pairs of traction chains extending diagonally in spaces between the cross chains, each traction chain consisting of interconnected links larger than the links of the cross chains, the traction chains of each pair having inner ends connected with a cross chain substantially midway the length thereof and extending therefrom in diverging relation to each other towards the side chains and having outer ends connected with opposite ends'of the next cross chain, said traction chains all diverging circumferentially of the 5 tire in the same direction and being al1 of such length that when the chain assembly is applied to a tire the traction chains extend loosely across the tread portion of the tire.

WILLIAM I-I. DEVONSHIRE. 10

Referenees cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Number Name Date Sincell June 5, 1923 Kittelson July 29, 1924 Richie Sept. 30, 1924 Mohr et a1 May 12, 1925 Martel 1 Apr. 25, 1933 Reyburn July 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland 1910 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1934 

